Commander Siblings!!

[lovetwinprops]

Well, it happened again!

Yesterday afternoon a friend and I flew down in my Commander to Carlsbad (Palomar Airport, KCRQ, northern San Diego County) for dinner with some friends who flew in from Van Nuys. When I got there, there was ONE spot vacant in the transient parking area, which put me very close to another Commander!

It's a beautiful 112B with an excellent paint job. It also appears to have an engine upgrade to an IO-540, according to a sticker on the side of the plane. I didn't go around the restaurant looking for its owner, and the plane was still there when I left. According to the Members List here at COG, the owner has the user name of Halidog (Timothy Lester).

A couple of pics of the two Commanders are attached.


Gerry

 

[alandotson]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

Might be a unique bird, as Machen STC for 112s was early in the history of Commanders. They only did a few, maybe 4+ ? Machen discontinued that STC long ago and reportedly would not sell it again. 112Bs didn't appear til 76-77 models? BUT, the cowl and spinner interface does look very different, so could be possible. Especially, if they have a decal on the airplane saying so...
Maybe our COG friend can clarify for us, I'm curious...

 

[alandotson]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

So, after previous post, looked up "halidog" and his aircraft is a 1973 112, so not a B model, which make it very possible that it's a Machen conversion...

 

[Sherman]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

Obviously rare cowl design. Kinda Looks 'Lo Presti' around (@) the prop spinner!.
In late 90s when we (T0-360 ) TC/TCA were forced to get new props, 3 blade was NOT yet an option (98). Wonder when 3 blade option became option for 112s!
Frank S?

 

[janderson]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

N112RC is a 112 w/a Machen conversion, IO540, hence the 3 blade. note the nose bowl on the cowl modified for the conversion.
Machen only did 4 or 5 of these. 2 caught fire, the other 3 hv been floating around, N100PP, N1330J and N112RC. Tim's happy
w/the perf. for the kind of flying he does back and forth to Reno.

also, there are 70 Commanders based in CA. #1 next to TX and FL.

Judi
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[Alex]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

N112RC at one time was based at KDWH. It was my neighbor. It belonged to Mike Paine at the time. He hardly flew it. He preferred his C206 as it could haul a lot of load.

Didn't know there were that many commanders in CA.

 

[neald]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

Obviously rare cowl design. Kinda Looks 'Lo Presti' around (@) the prop spinner!.
In late 90s when we (T0-360 ) TC/TCA were forced to get new props, 3 blade was NOT yet an option (98). Wonder when 3 blade option became option for 112s!
Frank S?

I am not sure I would call it LoPresti. That was needed for additional cooling.

Regards,
Neal

 

[janderson]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

looks like TX may hv passed up CA! I see 75 in TX now, Alex!

Judi

 

[VGIAMPA]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

Obviously rare cowl design. Kinda Looks 'Lo Presti' around (@) the prop spinner!.
In late 90s when we (T0-360 ) TC/TCA were forced to get new props, 3 blade was NOT yet an option (98). Wonder when 3 blade option became option for 112s!
Frank S?

Sherman,

IIRC, the 3-blade Hartzell became available sometime around 2003/04. I purchased mine in 2005; one of the best improvements I made.

Refresh my memory, I don't recall being forced to replace the 2-blade in the late 90's, but then again, at my age, there's a lot that I don't recall

 

[alandotson]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

Perhaps Sherman is referring to the hub AD which probably started back in the 90's. It is currently AD2009-22-03, with several supercedes before. Requires Eddy Current inspection every 100 hours now, but previously had calendar year provision which would be bad for low usage aircraft.

 

[VGIAMPA]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

Perhaps Sherman is referring to the hub AD which probably started back in the 90's. It is currently AD2009-22-03, with several supercedes before. Requires Eddy Current inspection every 100 hours now, but previously had calendar year provision which would be bad for low usage aircraft.

Recall that one now. Thanx Alan

 

[kgrant]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

Perhaps Sherman is referring to the hub AD which probably started back in the 90's. It is currently AD2009-22-03, with several supercedes before. Requires Eddy Current inspection every 100 hours now, but previously had calendar year provision which would be bad for low usage aircraft.

Remember Sherman was the REASON for the AD. His separated in-flight. k

 

[alandotson]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

So, he was forced to replace his prop because it failed inflight! OK, now I understand...

 

[Sherman]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

So, he was forced to replace his prop because it failed inflight! OK, now I understand...

Hi Alan - Not quite the history: August 1992-Prop blew apart 13,500 in climb over Appalachians: TC sn13040/4531W-(hub failure was NTSB conclusion)but that prop did not have blade strikes. .4531W a total loss. Got full book value. Bought N112HT. Same 2 blade Hartzell prop.
Then they started the required 50 hr Eddy current inspections. But in 97/98 they made us get New props - supposedly the hub was designed differently.

so much for me , Mr. nice guy. I didn't sue em- and 6 yrs later Hartzell, would not even give me a 10% discount. Was still a working School Principal and was doing Aviation Education programs, so wrote it off $12AMUs.
And Kelly - don't blame me for the AD Eddy inspections - Hartzell did bad prop hub design. You CAN blame me for the $4 plain Oshkosh 14 Bagel brunch after our Tent night, but hey what are Friends for?

 

[kgrant]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

Remember Sherman was the REASON for the AD. His separated in-flight. k

Sherman-
Probably should have phrased that differently........ Your prop failure started the process that lead to it. Wheels of government took a few years.

Still think about your experience when I preflight my prop.

 

[Sherman]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

Always a supreme pleasure to go out to the,airport (any airport ) and see a Commander. But when the airport is your home field and you have the thrill, immediately you wonder 'Who that' and is the Owner a COG member-right!

So I arrived way later than I wanted today and drove by the Office to arrange for the fuel truck.
Saw this Commander.
After getting fuel I am just about to crank over when this SUV I don't recognizes drives down my taxiway and it turns out to be Ray from Chesapeake. We talked abput our Commanders of course but also about our hot topics and the Aerodyme NLG kit. Ray was heading back to Chesapeake and it's now less than hour before Sunset

I did my Runup, checking on my charging system status with the reinstall of the VR, and headed down over the tree farm. Did some figure 8's over the property, calling Camellia on the cell from 800 ft AGL, and she actually got a few pics- a first - ground to air pic.

When arrive back at HWY, as I am on final final Rnwy 15, see Ray's,114 at the 'hold short position' . What a thrill - we were the only ones using the airport. TWO Commanders. Not a a COG flyin or a NECOG maintenance day. Wow, a TCA and a114.

As I am clearing the active Ray says 'Nice Landing'. I told him That' s always nice to hear, but no matter how many you've made the only one that counts is the one your doing. He agreed.As I am taxi-ing back, Ray began his Take off with the glow of the sunset behind with Shenandoahs outline. I stopped & I did get a pic of him taking off. You'll have to expand the pic to sre hI'm all lighted up.. Told him and he said,'Post it'. Told him I would.
M Thanks to Camellia & Ray, my Commander-ing fun tripled today!

 

[nruzic]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

Sherman great pics thanks and very nice description of 2 Commanders at a uncontrolled airport on a cool and calm Spring evening.

 

[iflysan]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

Sherman,

If you ever get a chance to see both prop hubs side by side, you will instantly see the improvements around the "shank retention area". This was a problem for a whole family of Hartzell props. Good you found out about it in a non-lethal fashion; although its too bad about the plane...

Regards - Clark

 

[InComs]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

The time you're arranging the fuel truck parts was quite a blessing in disguise for you to see those nice looking Commander.

 

[flyfred3]

Re: Commander Siblings!!

Looking at the pictures it never ceases to amaze me the vast amount of tarmac you have available, in the UK every square foot is occupied, you guys are so lucky in that respect.